Go to next chapter
 
return to TOC
 
return to BSP publications page

Overview

For more than a decade, the Biodiversity Support Program (BSP) has worked worldwide to conserve biological diversity in developing countries and countries in transition by supporting innovative, on-the-ground projects integrating conservation and development, applied research and analysis, and information outreach and exchange. BSP is a consortium of three non-governmental organizations (NGOs): the World Wildlife Fund-U.S. (WWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the World Resources Institute (WRI), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). BSP's support for field activities has been provided through regional programs in Africa and Madagascar; Asia and the Pacific; Latin America and the Caribbean; Eastern Europe, the Biodiversity Conservation Network (BCN), which also operated in the Asia and Pacific region; and the Conservation Impact Grants Program, which funded projects in all these regions. As an intermediary organization transmitting USAID funds, BSP has provided large and small grants using a variety of grantgiving approaches, all ultimately linked to biodiversity conservation. Many of BSP's conservation efforts have been accomplished through grants given to local, national and international institutions as well as to individual researchers. In giving grants to help achieve conservation-oriented objectives, BSP staff has also accumulated a great deal of practical experience and lessons learned about developing and managing grants and grant portfolios.

 

Summarizing Lessons Learned

We include the following summary to provide you with a quick reference of the general observations we made and the lessons we learned in this study.

Observations

  • Clarity of selection criteria is requisite.
  • Communication is key.
  • Site visits are essential.
  • Mentoring is a must.
  • Networking is necessary.

Lessons Learned on Effective Conservation Grant Management

Seeking Appropriate Grantees

  • Become familiar with local conditions where the grant program is to take place.
  • Use nontraditional media outlets and outreach methods to connect with potential grantees.
  • Take risks on nascent NGOs and early-career researchers.

Proposal/Concept Paper Preparation

  • Encourage short concept papers before or instead of a full-length proposal.
  • Provide guidance in thinking through linkages between objectives, outcomes, and methods.
  • Have the home office provide the signature on letters announcing final funding decisions.

Grantee Capacity Strengthening and Grantee/Grantor Interchange

  • Establish a field presence to the extent feasible, and ask probing questions.
  • Be flexible with timelines and sensitive to time constraints.
  • Promote partnership arrangements between grantor and grantees.
  • Provide training and workshops based on grantee needs.
  • Facilitate the involvement of national and international grantees involvement with local participants.

Grantee Networking and Presentation of Results

  • Facilitate creation of grantee networks within the program portfolio.
  • Facilitate grantee opportunities to showcase and disseminate results.
  • Direct grantees to relevant publishing venues and provide communications training.
  • Recruit volunteer mentors and established local NGOs to provide technical assistance.

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Introduce monitoring and evaluation into the project planning process.
  • Provide guidelines, assistance, and rationale for baseline data collection.
  • Facilitate grantee selection of simple, measurable, and useful indicators.